Sunday 09:02:12

In Malachi last week we read God’s accusations against the Israelite’s half-hearted worship. Their priests were complaining rather than being respectful toward God. Their people were bringing leftovers instead of their best to sacrifice at the temple. They were not offering their full tithe. Today we’re going to read what worship is supposed to look like. If you are a believer, God has stepped into your life and changed everything for you. He sent his Son to die for your sin so you wouldn’t have to. He has redeemed you from being a slave to sin. He has forgiven all of your sin and removed all your shame by Jesus’ death. He has given you new life that begins in this life, but goes on forever in the presence of God. He has given you his Spirit to help you live to honor Him with a changed life. Since God has done all these things in our lives, he is worthy of our worship. How then should we live? Like the Israelites of Malachi’s day in half-hearted worship? Psalm 96 (Psalms 93-100 declare the Lord’s rule over the earth and praise him for his glory.) How do we worship? vv. 1-2 – We worship God by singing about Him. This is praise. Why a new song? It is a fresh outburst of praise because his salvation is always new. New songs bring fresh stirrings of our hearts, new realizations of His goodness. “Proclaim his salvation day after day.” v. 3 –We worship God by telling others about His goodness. Notice: so much of worship is how we use our mouths. Declare his glory – tell about his glorious nature, his holiness, his power, his kindness, his rule. Declare his marvelous deeds – tell about how he works on our behalf, for Israel, for you. vv. 4-6 – We worship God by giving him Glory. Privately, corporately, aloud, silently reflecting His beauty, majesty, glory. He created the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him like heralds to a great king. Strength and honor are envisioned in his presence in his sanctuary. vv. 7-9 – We worship God by bringing offerings to Him. We think of money, but everything else too: time, possessions. More praise of God. Ascribe to him all that he is due: glory, strength, and splendor. v. 8b – bring an offering and come into his courts. God’s people would enter his temple to worship him. God had places built in the OT where he could be worshipped. But now, we worship him everywhere. He took away all the curtains and the things that separated us from Him. When Jesus died on the cross, everyone who has faith in him was washed clean of their sin. We have been made holy and made worthy to enter his presence to worship him. vv. 10-13 – We worship God by living holy lives. He comes to judge the world. When he does, he will find the people who believed in His Son and they will be holy before Him. Romans 12:1-2 – Your life is an act of worship. How’s your worship? Is it half-hearted? Or does your life reflect the change that God has made in your life? Does your speech/what you say to others honor God? Do your offerings honor Him? Does your life honor Him?